Arianna's P.O.V.

I hadn’t expected anyone to actually respond. The ad had only gone in the paper a scant five days earlier hidden behind a bike for sale and the opening of a new bar in the classifieds. I hadn’t known how else to do it, putting posters around campus had seemed to impersonal. But with everyone interviewed and only an hour to go until move in Luke left me pacing the floor of the foyer waiting on him yet again.

“I’m here, I’m here!”

My best friend tramped through the door proudly brandishing his new set of keys and yet another beat up suitcase. I had let Luke move in several days early to help me get ready but all he’d manage to do was raid the kitchen and already make a mess out of his new room. Everytime I turned around it was like he had another suitcase or box in his hands. Putting down my phone his number undialed I sent him an exasperated look.

“You said you’d be here an hour ago.”

“Relax mama bear,” Luke stated putting his hands on my shoulders to stop my pacing, “I’m here.”

Shaking Luke off I managed to calm my nerves slightly my hands still curled into fists at my sides. A deep sigh wracked my body as I shook my head. If I continued pacing I was going to kill myself with worry. My mother had always told me that the De’Clerc women had fragile nerves but I didn’t want to end up like her barely leaving bed and bossily ordering around the servants. Luke had a worried look in his eyes before I shrugged him off again.

“I’m going swimming, let me know when anyone gets here.”

Leaving Luke in the foyer I made my way to the back of the house. It was a new edition, something that my father had put in for my mom. I don’t think I’d ever seen my mother use the pool but the large atrium like windows had proven good for her mental health. Outside the London weather was drab, the rain beating steadily on the windows creating a steady drone that echoed through the large room. I always kept a spare suit in the small changing room off of the pool and within minutes I was churning steady laps down the pool. Swimming had always seemed to relax me the repetitive pull of exertion on my muscles distracting as my mind focused on my breathing pattern and the strokes. I must have lost track of time the minutes ticking because as I came at the wall a strange figure lingered at the doorway.

“Luke told me I’d find you back here.”

The boy’s voice was gravely as he pushed off the wall he’d been leaning on. With more of a swagger than anything else the boy took a seat on one of the lounge chairs his long shaggy hair and dark clothes looking rather out of place in the bright room. Considering Luke had not only let him in but pointed him in my direction I could only assume that this was Ashton, one of Luke’s old school friends, and the only person I hadn’t interviewed. I was more than a little self conscious of my tight workout bikini as his light eyes skimmed my finger with interest as I pushed myself out of the pool.

“Enjoying the view?” I asked with more snark than I was trying for but his eyes never left my body, “can you pass me my towel?”

“It’s not like you have anything to be ashamed for.” He answered smoothly before passing me the microfiber towel that I promptly wrapped around my middle.

“You must be Ashton.”
“And you’re Arianna.”
“Wow genius.”

Unwrapping the towel to dry my hair I made my way back towards the changing rooms. My hips probably swayed more than usual but I was more than aware of the unwanted gaze that graced my back, cool and unwavering. Luke had vouched for him, claiming that he was a great guy but I think that I was going to make my own judgements. Stopping before the door of the changing room I sent a glance over my shoulder at Ashton who was still sitting there his steely gaze focused on me.

“Luke can show you to your room.”

It took me three scrubs of my body wash to finally feel like his gaze was not longer stuck to my skin. I couldn’t explain it, why even just his eyes could manage to make me feel so odd. But a quick glance at the clock confirmed that mister dark and broody had arrived a half hour early, it was further proven by the ringing of the doorbell as the last curl fell off of my heating wand. Now with my nerves more steeled I managed to get to the door before Luke could intervene. Cassidy, Calum and Beck all stood on my doorstep their gazes searching like they might have the wrong house. I was used to the look, and the assumptions that went with it. I’d always tried to make judgements after meeting people but the same couldn’t be said for others.

“Nice house.” Calum stated his hands in his pockets and I knew from his interview that that was probably as much of a compliment that he gave.

With a nod I let them into the foyer Luke joining us in an offer to help. Giving him a soft smile I turned again to the newest arrivals. Cassidy had already started wandering off her gaze transfixed on many of the priceless paintings that had been passed down through my family. At least they were going to be appreciated by someone, Luke had suggested taking them down for insurance reasons but I hadn’t seen the point. Sometimes though the house felt more like a museum than a place to live.

“Kitchen is on the second floor, pool is through the back, game room is in the basement, library is on the third floor and bedrooms span the third and fourth floor,” I offered. “If you follow me I can show you the rooms.”

With a nod to Luke to send the others my way I led them up the stairs and around the back stairs to the third floor. The stairs and corners had already been lined with cardboard to try and prevent damage but considering the rooms were fully furnished it shouldn’t be too bad. Over the next several hours I managed to direct everyone to their rooms and get all the boxes inside despite the rain. It was like there was a weight on my chest that had been lifted. My mother’s words and insistences that this was a stupid idea and I didn’t need company had hit harder than I’d let on. So with a knock at Luke’s door I immediately collapsed onto his large bed with a sigh.

“That good huh?”
“I’m still alive aren’t I?”
“Debateable you look like crap.”

His insult earned a pillow thrown his head that squarely hit the wall behind him instead. I was going to need to fix my aim before lacrosse season. Beck would probably be able to help me with that. I’d been slightly embarrassed that I’d only recognized her name when she’d shown up for the interview. But the team was large and I only knew most of the girls by reputation.

“I can still kick you out.”
“And then you’d miss my rent I mean you wouldn’t kick out your only half price tenant.”
“Shush you said you wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“It’s not like you need the money.”

It was true but Luke’s words were a low blow. Everyone was always making that assumption, nine figure house, designer clothes, old money parents, it seemed to everyone to be the holy trifecta of a life of leisure. But this was more than that, it was a way to make money of my own, money that I had earned and wasn’t given and Luke knew that. It was also a vain effort to try and show my father that my business degree wasn’t a joke like he considered it.

“I’m kidding.” Luke snorted before pulling me off of his bed. “Now be social.”
“I don’t wanna,” I mumbled as I limply tried to resist him, “they know the rules.”

When I’d first done the interview I’d handed the people I’d selected a sheet with several simple rules. They were more common sense than anything but my parents had been insistent. It was their one condition for my supposedly hair brained scheme. Don’t break anything, you can use all the facilities just respect them, be respectful about others and noise, no parties without permission, these were the rules my parents had set and I’d passed on.

“You did get a copy to Ashton right?”
“Of course, by the way did he find you earlier?”

I let out a scoff my fingers playing with the edge of one of Luke’s pillows. Apparently he hadn’t told Luke but in the brief time I’d met him that wasn’t surprising.

“What’s his problem?”

Luke just offered me a slight smile with a glint in his eyes I wasn’t sure I liked. Shaking his head Luke gently prodded me out of his room and towards the stairs. I wasn’t really sure where to go and what to do next. With everyone unpacking the house was only a little less quiet than it had been when it was driving me crazy. I sent Luke a pleading look but he just sent me a pointed glance.

“You have residents now, go do things. I’ll be down soon.”

Notes

Hey everyone!

Welcome to London Calling we are really excited to share this with y'all. I hope you like it :) There should be more soon.

-Abby

"Luke can show you to your room."


I couldn't explain it, why even just his eyes could manage to make me feel so odd.